Reduced movements?

[blvdbrokendreams]

For what feels like the millionth time but is probably more like maybe ten times im off to the hospital to get baby checked. She has absolutely no pattern of movements and I haven't felt her since this morning. I'm getting incredibly worried all the time and I'm only 33 weeks and have been in and out since 24 weeks. All scans have come back normal and the monitoring is also normal.
I'm scared the Midwifes are going to think I'm stupid and being a nuisance and one of those people and honestly it just makes me want to cry.
Am I being stupid?

Huge sympathies OP - what you are describing sounds v similar to me, so understand the stress and misery!

I am 26 weeks and my anxiety has escalated rapidly since about 20 weeks. First pregnancy, no previous history with anxiety/mental health issues so this feels as though it’s come out of nowhere.

I am also now a regular at maternity triage even at this early stage - I feel hugely embarrassed every time I go there but every time baby has a quiet day I think the worst and going in is the only thing that helps. Everyone is very nice each time it happens but do worry they think I’m ridiculous - I’m desperately trying to find a balance between my anxiety and the possibility of a genuine problem.

I’ve also tried to get help for this as really don’t want it to become a permanent problem - I can’t get a referral to the perinatal mental health team given my lack of previous history and being ‘not bad enough’! I have been referred for CBT though, through the area’s wider (rather than just perinatal) mental health services - initially they said it was an 8 week wait but they have actually only taken a week to sort out an appointment - fingers crossed yours will also work out this way! It seems to be more about coping strategies than my life story and am hopeful it will help.

I have also got a referral for consultant care - think maybe the midwives just want to see the back of me (don’t blame them!) and not sure what it will entail but it has at least given me something else to think about!

Anyway, I’m so sorry you are feeling this way - hopefully the perinatal team will come up with something soon (and you should definitely keep going back to triage if you are still worried, it doesn’t matter what they think! I keep telling myself this anyway!)

Hi OP, I rarely felt movements at all which drove me crazy! However I did find if I wore a tight top and stayed very still I could see the movement. Might be worth trying as it might make you feel better.

As for midwives thinking you are silly, they shouldn't and almost none would. There are bad people in any profession but just ignore them! If they give the medical advice that you should come in for any reduced or change in movement, then they expect you to follow it!

I had this with my son. He honestly barely moved the whole pregnancy! I sat next to a girl at work who was desperate to feel him move and told me to tell her when he kicked. At the end of the day she'd say your forgot to tell me when he moved' and I'd say 'no I'd didn't! He just hasn't moved all day!'.

I went in a few times to maternity for lack of movement but he they always said everything was ok. At home, he never ever met the count the kicks criteria (not even close!). I also paid for loads of private scans with a consultant (very expensive!) because I was so worried. Most times when I had my scans he was facing towards my back so she said that was why I maybe wasn't feeling him as much. Even when I was in labour they were asking me if I felt movements and I said ' no! I never feel him!'.

When he was born I could see why I hadn't felt him move - he was the most 'still' baby! He didn't wriggle and squirm and barely would stretch - he was just like a doll, laying perfectly still. Perfectly healthy but just not a big mover!

Always best to get checked out of course, even if it's just so you sleep better at night.

Probably going in once a week now. She was measuring small at the last scan but nobody seemed concerned. She doesn't even have reduced movements. She just stops moving entirely.
I'm just so sick of being worried and feeling like a nuisance for going in again

@blvdbrokendreams it's horrible isn't it :(
My baby doesn't stop completely but movements go so reduced about once every 2 weeks.
Iv been in 7 times now. It's horrible isn't it and they all seem to get to no you too 🙈 and you feel such a nuisance.

I'm actually being induced tomorrow at 38+5 due to movements and severe anxiety about it.
But please just keep going and don't wait until your once a week if movements are not right. Only you no your baby that's what I think. X

@clo1992 yeah it's horrible when they start to recognise you. I have days when she does nothing but move and then days when she just stops. It's not even a reduction. She just totally stops and I totally feel like a nuisance and a moron. I know I have anxiety but I know my baby and I know her movements and she's actually just stopped again. Had a quiet day yesterday and haven't felt her since evening yesterday.
Feel very stupid

@blvdbrokendreams please do go back if things don't feel right for your baby.
Did your Doppler on the scan come back ok for the blood flow etc ?

Iv honestly learnt not to care about what people think of me since this is my baby I'm concerned about and that's what they are there for :)
You got this 💪🏻

@clo1992 the flow on Doppler's was a tiny bit high. Cut off is 95. Babies is 96. Got a repeat CTG tomorrow and another Doppler Friday. I just feel like I'm being so stupid. The machine picks up so much movement and I get absolutely nothing

@blvdbrokendreams I had a 36 week growth scan recently and my baby was moving and kicking like mad and I couldn't feel a thing.....not one single movement through the entire scan!! It's so weird.

@sel2223 exactly that! At the scan today the sonographer said 'wow she's an active one' and I'm sat there dying to feel these movements and I'm not

I totally sympathise, it can be so stressful.

I've got a high anterior placenta and baby is head down so most of her body from her shoulders down is behind the placenta where i feel nothing at all.
The only movements I get are the ones very low down , either from her head (hiccups for example) or if she has her arms/hands up, otherwise I feel nothing at all.